MarkSmith

Mark Smith of Bethlehem passed away on June 1st due to complications related to Huntington's Disease. Personal: Mark's parents were the late Pearl Brotzman from Easton, and Cody H. Smith from Durham, NC.Mark attended school in the East Penn School District and graduated from Emmaus High School in 1976. After graduating from Kutztown University, where he studied Business, he moved to New York City where he worked for the B. Altman Department Store for several years. Returning to the Allentown area Mark worked for many years as a credit analyst for Dun and Bradstreet. Over the years Mark had an abiding interest in music which led him in 1985 to begin performing. In part he was inspired by such local mid-1960s Allentown groups as The Shillings and Kings Ransom whose music he had heard in his youth. With the talent of brilliant collaborators who Mark was honored to work with, he was able to form a musical group which came to be called The Creatures of The Golden Dawn. Beloved by many, The Creatures performed often in the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, New York, and as far away as Montreal and Moscow. In contact with music lovers all over the world, on the last day of his life he was preparing a package of CDs to send to a fan in Spain. Survivors: He is survived by his brother, Gregg, sister-in-law, Irene, and nephew Ian, of Wescosville. Also cousins, Linda Brotzman of Schnecksville, and Tom Brotzman of McAllisterville, PA. Services: All friends, family, fans, co-workers, and classmates of Mark are invited to attend and reminisce and remember Mark at a memorial service to be held Tuesday,June 21st at 6 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, Cedar Crest Boulevard & Tilghman Streets, Allentown, PA. Also a musical memorial party celebrating the life of Mark Smith, leader of The Creatures of The Golden Dawn will be held Saturday,July 2nd, starting 9 p.m. at the Funhouse in South Side Bethlehem. Memorials: Mark was diagnosed with Huntington's Disease in 2007. It is a debilitating genetic disorder. Contributions in Mark's name may be sent to the: Huntington's Disease Society of America, Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter, 502 West Germantown Pike, Suite 405, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 or online at : www.hdsa.org/epch/epadon.html. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, Allentown.